First Switzerland, then Monterey: Check this out while you plan

We bumped into this info from Franklin College Switzerland, one of our fave "off the beaten path" schools.

Franklin College recently entered into an agreement with the Graduate School of International Policy Studies of the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) of California.

As a result of the agreement, qualified Franklin graduates may enter MIIS graduate programs with advanced entry status. This is the first such agreement between MIIS and an undergraduate institution.

This agreement recognizes Franklin's global focus and its reputation in educating some of the best and brightest undergraduates who seek careers as global public policy professionals, as well as the skills Franklin students have acquired such as fluency in a second language, intercultural competence and policy knowledge. Under the agreement, qualified Franklin students selected for the program may have their MIIS language requirement waived, receive credit for courses taken at Franklin and be given preferential consideration for Monterey Institute Merit Scholarships ranging from $7,000 - $14,000 per academic year.

While many courses of study at Franklin can be applied towards advanced degrees at GSIPS, students majoring in International Communications, International Economics, International Management and International Relations will receive highest priority. Armando Zanecchia, Dean of the faculty of Natural and Social Sciences stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity for Franklin graduates. It has been made possible in great part by former Franklin students who have excelled in degree programs at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.”

For more information about the selection criteria you can download a PDF that provides an overview, as well as contact Armando Zanecchia azanecchia@fc.edu, Dean of Natural and Social Sciences.

Upshot: the option of getting your undergrad degree outside of the USA can pay dividends if you choose to come back to the USA afterwards.

Walla Walla U: A Best College for Vegetarians

Selective Walla Walla University, near (but not in) the lovely town of Walla Walla, Washington, has this nugget on the "about us" page of their website:

Health and well-being are another important aspect of our lifestyle principles. To promote a healthy diet, our campus dining room serves only vegetarian food and students are asked not to drink alcohol or use tobacco, and of course, other harmful drugs. To promote well-being, entertainment options focus on positive, uplifting events that bring students, faculty and staff together for social interaction.

This is more than a nod to vegetarians: Walla Walla U is a Seventh-Day Adventist school, and thus keeps a vegetarian diet in line with church teachings. See more on the SDA Vegetarian lifestyle here.

Food for (your college search) thought.

Kids: Want a Lesson in How to Act With Class? See Pro Golfers...

I'll often get questions from parents about role models. With Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, it's tough to find the right kind of people to point to as professionals to emulate.

Unless you look at professional golf. I'll pick three golfers out of the scores who play professionally and, with the US Open having just concluded (in memorable fashion), you can learn a ton by watching these guys.

Tiger Woods: winner of the tournament. Did it on a bad knee. Hit memorable shots.

Ignore that for a second, and pay attention to how he conducts himself off the course. Watch next time how he treats reporters with dignity and respect -- even the reporters who ask really goofy questions.

Rocco Mediate: the surprise runner-up. Class act who didn't buckle under pressure and just wanted to give the fans "a good show." Now legendary for his grin. (Doubled his fans on Facebook overnight.

Phil Mickelson: nowhere near the leaders. BUT...You see, Phil grew up in San Diego (where the tournament was played) and practically grew up on Torrey Pines, the Open course. He had an average week, punctuated by a YouTube-esque video of him hitting the same shot three times in succession and scoring a 9 on a hole.

Asked when the tournament was done about his thoughts on his own play, he preferred to credit the USGA for doing "their best job ever" in setting up the course, and said he was proud to have been from San Diego after the way the fans and area treated people during the tournament.

We haven't even begun to talk about the class acts in Women's golf -- Lorena Ochoa, the greatest female golfer now (and perhaps ever) may be the most humble as well.

Parents with teenagers who are looking to give their kids a gentle nudge toward role models should look no further than pro golf.

What the Democratic Primaries Tell Us About Sending Kids to College

Is there a connection? I mean, beyond the "where did the candidates go to school" or the "who's got the better plan for student loans" stuff?

Yes. The future will not be televised: it's online.

Barack Obama scored what some are calling a huge upset -- in fact, I'd put it up there with the most recent Super Bowl. (18-1 has become an iconic set of numbers.) Not supposed to be on the same field with the presumptive nominee, young, inexperienced. Overmatched.

It's what Senator Obama did online to organize, recruit, keep people engaged, and stay on message -- that's where the upset really wasn't an upset.

The Democratic Nominee's camp knows what some colleges and universities know too well: it's never over, this recruiting cycle. He got the youth mobilized online and kept them energized online. Their "CRM" was constant, personalized and, above all, relevant.

Sen. Obama's strategy was ignored by all other Dems. In fact, dare I say it was ignored by all other candidates -- save for Ron Paul, a subject for another day.

And, as of today, there are close to 1 Million Fans of Obama on Facebook.

Ignore the Internet at your own peril, o college bound student, parent, and administrator.

What About the Boarding School Search?

Another great resource to point out comes from the folks at Admissions Quest, whose tools can help those in search of the right boarding school find out which ones make sense for them.

Anyone who lives in a big city, for instance, knows how competitive the magnet schools and even public high school admissions can be. (Chicago, as an example...filling out the application for an 8th grader can be an onerous task.

We like Admissions Quest's approach, and you can get tons of information from the site. Check it out!